ICC turns down PCB petition for Ajmal’s award nomination – Cricket News Update
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled out any prospect of Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal’s late addition to the shortlist for the ICC's Test Cricketer of the Year award, after the Pakistan Cricket Board lodged an official protest with the governing
body against the off-spinner’s omission, requesting a review.
“The ICC has no authority to change the results of the academy,” confirmed an ICC spokesman while speaking to
ESPNcricinfo. “The voting results are final and binding on everyone.”
Ajmal currently features among the top spinners in the cricket world, ranked at number 3 on the ICC’s list of top Test bowlers, directly below http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vernon-Philander-c2753 (number 2). He has claimed a total of 122 wickets from 23 Tests, 72
of which he took during the qualifying period for the award (between August 4, 2011 to August 6, 2012). The period also included his stellar 24 at 14.70 against England during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s 3-0 whitewash of the Poms in January this year.
While Ajmal was included in the longlist for the award, his name did not feature in the shortlist – a circumstance which the PCB felt deserved the ICC’s reconsideration. However, the governing body has turned down the request for revision and ruled out the
possibility, pointing out that the shortlist is complied by an independent jury.
“It is important to understand the process which is very simple and transparent, and monitored by independent auditor Ernst & Young. The longlists are prepared by a five-member Selection Panel,” said the ICC spokesman, going on to explain that the panel
was led by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746).
“The shortlists are then created after the individual player awards are voted for by an academy of 32 highly credentialed cricket personalities from around the world. The top four players in each category with most votes are included in the shortlists.”
A somewhat similar instance occurred in 2010, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 itself), after which the ICC added his name to the list.
However, unlike Swann, Ajmal was already present in the longlist, and only failed to make it to the final 4.
Meanwhile, the jury has settled on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557 (South African batsman) as the nominees for the Test Cricketer of the Year award. The results
will be revealed at the ICC award ceremony in Sri Lanka (Colombo) on September 15.
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